EXCLUSIVE: NAACP urges Gov. Cuomo to support de Blasio's mayoral control of city schools

Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference, signed a letter backing Mayor de Blasio saying, “We believe that the Mayor must lead and be held accountable for sustaining and accelerating the progress we’ve made in recent years."

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People came out swinging for Mayor de Blasio’s control of the public schools in a letter backed by other influential civil rights groups and delivered to state politicians on Monday.

The forceful note addressed to Gov. Cuomo and top Albany lawmakers marks the first time the state NAACP has officially come out in favor of the controversial issue of mayoral control. It was cosigned by leaders of the Hispanic Federation and Asian American Federation.

“We believe that the Mayor must lead and be held accountable for sustaining and accelerating the progress we’ve made in recent years,” reads the letter signed by New York NAACP President Hazel N. Dukes.

“In addition, there should be every expectation that Mayor de Blasio will be up to the task given his focus and past success on improving educational outcomes for our children,” the letter continues. “As such, we implore you to pass a multi-year extension of mayoral control of New York City schools.”